The 19th Gangaur Festival was celebrated with devotion and cultural fervor at the Bharatiya Temple in Pennsylvania, bringing together more than 500 members of the Indian diaspora and the Rajasthani community from across several states in the northeastern United States.
The event was attended by Binay Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, as the Chief Guest and Prem Bhandari, President of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York, as the Guest of Honor. U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, the Mayor of Ambler, and several community leaders were also present at the gathering.
The festival was organized under the leadership of Nand Todi, founder of the Bharatiya Temple, and Dr. Ravi Murarka, President of the Philadelphia Rajasthani Mandal (PARAM), according to a press note shared with International Business Times by Murarka.
Several members of Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York, accompanied Bhandari at the event, including newly appointed Patron Jugal Kishore Ladda, Secretary Ravi Jargarh, and members Raj Garg, Vinay Jain, Sharad Agarwal, and Harish Thakkar.
During the festival, devotees participated in the worship of Gauri Mata, followed by a traditional Gangaur procession and cultural performances celebrating Rajasthan's heritage. Guests were also served traditional Rajasthani cuisine including Dal Baati Churma, Gatte ki Sabzi, and Chhach (buttermilk).
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Binay Srikanta Pradhan emphasized the importance of unity among the Indian diaspora in the United States.
"The Indian diaspora in the United States should work together in unity and cooperation to address the issues and challenges faced by the Indian community in America," Pradhan said, adding that the diaspora can play an important role in strengthening the multifaceted relationship between India and the United States.
Pradhan also encouraged members of the Indian community to support entrepreneurship and trade within the diaspora through collaboration.
He noted that the nature of U.S.–India relations has evolved over time.
"Earlier the focus was on economic assistance, today the relationship is increasingly centered on collaboration in modern sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), trade partnerships, and technological cooperation," he said.
Speaking at the event, Prem Bhandari, who also serves as the International Convener of the Akhil Bhartiya Rajasthani Bhasha Manyata Sangharsh Samiti, highlighted the long-standing demand for the inclusion of the Rajasthani language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
"It is extremely unfortunate that despite the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly unanimously passing a resolution on August 25, 2003, no concrete progress has been made in this direction over the past 23 years," Bhandari told International Business Times.
Bhandari said that political parties across the spectrum share responsibility for the delay.
"For the past 16 years I have participated in various movements and demonstrations—from protests on the streets to representations at Rashtrapati Bhavan—yet due to a lack of political will, no decision has been taken so far," he said.
He also expressed concern that the Government of Rajasthan has not yet granted Rajasthani the status of a second official language within the state.
"It is difficult to understand why the Government of Rajasthan has not yet granted the status of a second official language to Rajasthani within the state," he added.
During his remarks, Bhandari also praised Ambassador Binay Srikanta Pradhan for ensuring that the Consulate General of India in New York remains accessible and engaged with the community throughout the year.
He also appreciated Nand Todi, founder and philanthropist of the Bharatiya Temple, noting that Todi has donated $1 million for the construction of a shelter home in Philadelphia.
As part of the celebrations, nine children who won a poster competition were honored during the festival. The winners received cash awards and certificates presented by the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York. The children created posters highlighting Rajasthan's tourist destinations, historic forts, and the importance of granting constitutional recognition to the Rajasthani language.
On the sidelines of the festival, a special meeting with leaders of more than 25 Indian community organizations was also held. During the meeting, community issues were discussed with Consul General Binay Srikanta Pradhan and Prem Bhandari.
Representatives of the participating organizations honored them by draping ceremonial shawls as a mark of respect.
Organizers said the Gangaur Festival has become an important platform for celebrating Rajasthani culture and traditions while strengthening unity among members of the Indian diaspora in the United States.
